Pakistanis Create MillatFacebook

Pakistanis outraged with Facebook over "blasphemous" caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed have created a spin-off networking site that they dream can connect the world's 1.6 billion Muslims.A group of six young IT professionals from Lahore, the cultural and entertainment capital of Pakistan, launched www.millatfacebook.com on Tuesday for Muslims to interact online and protest against blasphemy.Millatfacebook is Pakistan's very own, first social networking site. A site for Muslims by Muslims where sweet people of other religions are also welcome," the website tells people interested in signing up. Dubbed MFB, after Facebook's moniker FB, its founder says professionals are working around the clock to offer features similar to those pioneered by the wildly popular California-based prototype.
Each member has a "wall" for friends to comment on. The site offers email, photo, video, chat and discussion board facilities.
The Urdu word "Millat" is used by Muslims to refer to their nation. The website claims to have attracted 4,300 members in the last three days - mostly English-speaking Pakistanis in their 20s.

The number of aficionados may be growing, but the community is a drop in the ocean of the 2.5 million Facebook fans in Pakistan and there have been some scathing early reviews of the start-up.

YOUTUBE Banned in Pakistan

‘YouTube’ is banned after some sacrilegious caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) were transferred from Facebook to YouTube. For more of the news, read  here. 
The ban, which also included certain pages on Flickr and Wikipedia sites, occurred a day after access to Facebook was suspended on orders from a Pakistani court. A group of Islamic lawyers won that injunction, arguing that a contest, started by users for drawings of the Prophet Muhammad and called “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day,” was offensive. Depiction of Muhammad is considered blasphemous by some Muslims. 

Facebook Banned in Pakistan

 A Pakistani court today banned the use of Facebook in Pakistan until May 31. The ban came after Facebook posted a page "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!" to be held on Thursday.

A Pakistani employee pastes news about blocked Facebook pages on the entrance door of an internet cafe in Islamabad, Wednesday May 19, 2010. A Pakistani court has ordered authorities to block Facebook temporarily over a competition encouraging users to post caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed on the social networking site.

Sketches of Prophet Muhammad are considered an act of blasphemy by Muslims and this Facebook page has already incurred criticisms from several Muslims. Pakistan's Law Minister Babar Awan said that "this issue will be raised on all international forums."
The fallout has already begun in Pakistan, where in the port city of Karachi protestors have taken to streets protesting the Facebook announcement.For more of the news, peep here.


Image Credits: Aamir Qureshi & Mohsin Raza

Pakistan Street Food: Takatak/Kat-a-Kat

It is originally called " tawa gurda kapoora" which means kidneys and testicles in a large frying pan. To avoid the embarrassment of associating such words with food, most of us now call it Takatak. It refers to the sound made by the skillful chef while frying these organs and hitting the pan with two sharp slicers in a captivating rythm. He keeps slicing and frying them until the testicles, kidneys, heart & brain  become a mixture of meat and thick masala curry. You can make your pick and choose which parts to include in your serving.

Bullock Cart

A bullock cart or ox cart is a two-wheeled vehicle pulled by oxen (draught cattle). It is a means of transportation used since ancient times in many parts of the world. They are still used today where modern vehicles are too expensive or the infrastructure does not favor them.

                                  

Sisterhood Award

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                                        Thank You Vernz and Timami for making my blogging experience fun and exciting.



The rules are:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
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I'm passing this award to these wonderful bloggers:
Len, Fat Lady, Khim, Juliet, Marai, Jhownie, Lina, Anney, Risma and Loveleng.